Whereas, the Baxter Compensation Authority was established to compensate students at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf who suffered physical or sexual abuse; and

Whereas, current funding for the Baxter Compensation Authority is insufficient to compensate all eligible victims; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

BAXTER COMPENSATION AUTHORITY

Baxter Compensation Authority

Initiative: Appropriates funds to the Baxter Compensation Authority to be used for payment of compensation to former students who were victims of physical or sexual abuse at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and its predecessor.

GENERAL FUND 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $8,400,000 $0

__________ ________

GENERAL FUND TOTAL $8,400,000

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill includes a General Fund appropriation to the Baxter Compensation Authority to provide cash awards to former students of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf or the Maine School for the Deaf who were found to have suffered physical or sexual abuse.